RobinGirl

Has anyone switched their insurance to Kaiser after being banded? I just changed jobs and they only offer Kaiser for medical insurance. Will Kaiser administer fills or provide care for any lap band issues that hopefully will never occur?

Please don't think you did the wrong thing. It is just the gas. It is the most painful part of the recovery. Another thing to know is that the pain meds will cause constipation making the gas worse. If you can switch to liquid tylenol for the next 12 hours and drink as much water as you can. Maybe just grab a good book or magazine and hang out in the bathroom for a while? That should help move things along. However- once it starts moving along, don't be surprised if it won't stop for a while . If that doesn't work, just keep walking, using the gas-x, heating pad and drinking water. It will eventually go away, but it just seems awful now. Hang in there. It really does get better

Yippeee!

I did a sleep study before surgery but I was hoping for sleep apnea. I had been denied by one point on my BMI so I needed sleep apnea to qualify. I have terrible insomnia so I asked my sleep doctor if I could take some Benadryl before. She agreed as they needed me to sleep and not lay there all night awake. Sometime in the middle of the night they woke me up to apply a CPAP as I did have sleep apnea. The best part was that I got the best 4 hours of sleep in years. I felt sooo good. Since then I have used my CPAP every night and I feel great. BTW- I was finally approved for the band and I'm down 40 lbs in 4 months. I will most likely not need the CPAP in a few more months, but I actually like it. (I know I'm rare!) Bring a book or a magazine, comfy pj's that you're not afraid to be seen in by strangers, and relax. Its a little hard though because of all the wires glued to your head, but it really isn't an issue. Good Luck! PS- Sleep apnea can inhibit weight loss, so its good to know if you have it so it can be treated.

The sad truth is that yes it does matter. Many will deny it, but it mostly occurs in the subconcious and they won't admit it. Like healthydreams, I too lost about 45 pounds a couple years ago. During that time I was promoted and given a hefty raise. A couple years later and in a new job I put on the weight again. Guess who was laid off? I was. I'm sure that my weight didn't cause the lay off, but during that time I had a couple sexist male clients and they obviously preferred the younger thinner account reps that were on my team even though I was the more experienced rep. So with that, I wasn't a client favorite and when they had to let 20% of the staff go, they kept the more attractive reps. It's how it goes. Fast forward to now and I'm almost back to my 40 pound smaller figure and in a new job. Go figure - literally. Also - obesity is not protected by any of the equal opportunity or ADA laws. They can discriminate for being too fat. Sad, very sad.

Sounds about right to me. It would take me over an hour to drink a protein drink. I felt like once I finished one I had to start on another!

Wish I would have thought of that! I craved Taco Bell pintos n' cheese so bad!

I remember I was so hungry by day 5 that I would take my pain meds and take a nap until my next protein drink. Its only a a couple weeks before you can eat real food - well pureed soup, but it makes a difference. Hang in there!

Nothing is wrong with you. You are just getting used to all of this. It is really hard once you get your appetite back but it is important to follow the "banister rules". I mentioned this in another post - follow the bandster rules: Slowly progress through liquids, purees, mushies, soft solids, then real food, eat slowly, chew chew chew, don't drink anything during or after meals (for 90 minutes), and eat only a cup of food at a time. It seems really overwhelming at this moment, but take it one day at a time, then a week at a time. It will soon feel like second nature to you if you accept the path you are on. If you follow the "rules" you will be so much more satisfied and you won't put your body at risk. Your body is healing from a serious surgery and you need to give it time. I know you can do it. Keep your eye on the prize and care for your body. You've come a long way so far and you can't give up yet. You have so many great things coming. You just wait! Best wishes to you!

I am in the US, but there are Aussie's on this site. Check the regional boards and I am sure you can connect with some locals. YOu won't want to or really need to eat much the first few days. Just keep getting your fluids in. That's what really matters. Hang in there! You can do it!

Unjury tastes great. They are whey based which is milk protein. They can all be mixed with non fat milk if you like. I mix the strawberry with light lemonade (I bet if mixed with milk it would taste like strawberry milk yum!) and the chocolate with milk. They aren't thick and they taste great!

Hey Ladies, Please hang in there. It does get better. I really hated the gas pains and they were the worst. My advice is to: walk as much as you can (walking around Target or Wal Mart counts), use a heating pad or warm bean bag on your shoulders, chew gas x, take your pain meds, drink as much Water as you can, drink your Protein (it will take a while to get down) and take more gas x . Once you get over the gas and find your rhythm you will be so much happier. Also- follow the bandster rules: Slowly progress through liquids, purees, mushies, soft solids, then real food, eat slowly, chew chew chew, don't drink anything during or after meals (for 90 minutes), and eat only a cup of food at a time. It seems really overwhelming at this moment, but take it one day at a time, then a week at a time. It will soon feel like second nature to you if you accept the path you are on. I wish you luck and much success. I know you can do it!

Welcome home!!! If the pain meds make you itch try liquid Tylenol Rapid Burst. It works super quick without the itchy and dopey side effects.

I really like the Unjury Strawberry Sorbet mixed with light lemonade because it is nice and thin. Once the protein dissolves it is just like strawberry lemonade. I also like to use BiPro plain whey protein in my iced lattes in the morning. I don't even notice the protein powder anymore. I'm also a HUGE fan of the Unjury chocolate splendor. Sometimes I blend in a little peanut butter and its delicious! You can order both brands online.

I had my second fill the other day and I finally know what restriction feels like. I love it!!! I am now at 4.5 cc's. The first fill was 3 cc's that took the edge off, but after a month I was white knuckling through the day with hunger. I have been using A LOT of self restraint for the past 3 months and I have been able to lose 36#'s in the process. Without this last fill, I am sure that I would have started gaining quickly. My meals were getting larger and I was losing self control. When I told my doctor I was able to eat 2 pieces of pizza no problem, she said I needed a fill. So 1.5 cc's later, I am eating like I did 3 weeks after surgery. I was able to only eat 1 oz of rotisserie chicken and 2 broccoli florets for dinner the other night and I was stuffed. I love it! (Yes, I love my band)! I'm looking forward to ramping up my weight loss this month as my 20 year high school reunion is at the end of this month. Wish me luck on that!

The lump under your skin is most likely your port. Congrats on being banded and moving into the next phase of your life.

I completely agree. I actually haven't been on here lately because I got tired of the "I ate too much. How come I'm not losing" posts. Also -posters please proof read or at least spell check your posts and don't type in text shorthand form or in phonics. It's annoying. Sorry that's my rant. I hope I'm not a troll.

Yep, sounds like gas. The heating pad and gas X will help. Walk as much as you can and try not too swallow extra air when you drink liquids.

I didn't have one. But they did have me use the bathroom right before surgery.

I take liquid Benadryl every night before bed. I love it because it helps me sleep.

Yep, mine felt quite swollen for about 6 weeks. Now I can feel it when I push on it but its not as hard as before.

I had corn on the cob last night and I loved it! I am 9 weeks post op and I had my first fill last week. I really expected a change in what I could eat, but its just the same as before. I avoid bread, fried foods, and potatoes because of the nutrition value but otherwise everything is good. I chew very very well, eat slow, and take small bites. I also keep my portions small. I'm dreading the day I won't be able to eat a salad or lightly steamed veggies.

Thanks! I'm waiting until I find a "thinner" pic to change it

I have one that is similar but it is full of what seem like lentil size beans. I love it! I use it to warm my feet in bed in the winter too.

I love that I can scan UPC codes with my iPhone. It really helps.